An amendment to the Computer Misuse Act was tabled in Parliament on Monday to strengthen the Government's ability to act against cyber attacks. --ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

By Irene Tham

An amendment to the Computer Misuse Act was tabled in Parliament on Monday to strengthen the Government's ability to act against cyber attacks.

Proposed amendments allow the Minister of Home Affairs to order a person or organisation to act against any cyber attack even before it has begun. Under the current Act, the Minister can exercise his powers only when there is an outright cyber attack against critical infrastructure like power stations or water filtration plants that may in turn disrupt the economy and threaten national security.

The change will allow him to take pre-emptive actions when specific intelligence has been received of an imminent attack that could cripple critical infrastructure such as public utilities, telecommunications, banking and transportation.

It is part of the Government's efforts to better counter cyber attacks, which are increasingly more prevalent and sophisticated.